Independence day bomb blasts: Prosecution wants adjustment to witness evidence

The trial of the alleged mastermind of the October 1, 2010,
Independence day bombings in Abuja, Charles Okah in the terrorism
charges preferred against him by the Federal Government resumed on
Monday, with the prosecution seeking to affix a stamp on an
evidence already before the court.

The prosecution counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN) told Justice
Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday that
his client would like to affix a stamp on the evidence alluded to
by the first prosecution witness, John Afolabi, in April 2015.

Okah is facing trial, along with his co-defendants for allegedly
masterminding the October 1, 2010, Independence day bomb blasts
which occurred at the Eagle Square in Abuja, which claimed the
lives of several people and left several others injured.

Izinyon told the court that his client intends to regularise the
said document by affixing the requisite stamp and added that the
said document contains a list of items alluded to by Afolabi, the
first prosecution witness in the matter.

Reacting to the application, the defence counsel, Oghene Otemo
said the document intended to be regularised has been in court for
a long time, and that the defence team had addressed the court on
the failure of the prosecution to affix a stamp on the said
document.

He argued that “The application of the Prosecution Counsel is
alien and unknown to law. It is unknown to the criminal procedure
of Nigeria. Granting the application will amount to the mistrial of
the defendant.

“Granting the application upon presented facts, at this stage of
the case, will orchestrate a serious miscarriage of justice. It is
an abuse of court process,” Otemo said.

Justice Kolawole adjourned the matter till February 21, 2018,
for ruling on the prosecution’s application.

Okah, Nwabueze, Edmund Ebiware and Tiemkemfa Francis-Osvwo (aka
General Gbokos) were first arraigned before the court on December
7, 2010, over their alleged involvement in the October 1, 2010,
blasts, leaving about 12 people dead and several others
injured.

The court had earlier sentenced Edmund Ebiware to life
imprisonment, while the 4th defendant, Tekemfa Francis-Osvwo died
in prison.

The court held on June 1, 2017, that both Okah and Nwabueze had
a case to answer with respect to the incident.

Justice Kolawole dismissed the defendants’ no-case submission
which they had filed after the prosecution called 17 witnesses and
tendered documentary exhibits as evidence to prove its case.

The Judge held that contrary to the contention of the
defendants, the prosecution had been able to link the defendants
with the alleged offence, warranting them to offer explanations in
respect of the charges preferred against them.

The trial of the alleged mastermind of the October 1, 2010,
Independence day bombings in Abuja, Charles Okah in the terrorism
charges preferred against him by the Federal Government resumed on
Monday, with the prosecution seeking to affix a stamp on an
evidence already before the court.

The prosecution counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN) told Justice
Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday that
his client would like to affix a stamp on the evidence alluded to
by the first prosecution witness, John Afolabi, in April 2015.

Okah is facing trial, along with his co-defendants for allegedly
masterminding the October 1, 2010, Independence day bomb blasts
which occurred at the Eagle Square in Abuja, which claimed the
lives of several people and left several others injured.

Izinyon told the court that his client intends to regularise the
said document by affixing the requisite stamp and added that the
said document contains a list of items alluded to by Afolabi, the
first prosecution witness in the matter.

Reacting to the application, the defence counsel, Oghene Otemo
said the document intended to be regularised has been in court for
a long time, and that the defence team had addressed the court on
the failure of the prosecution to affix a stamp on the said
document.

He argued that “The application of the Prosecution Counsel is
alien and unknown to law. It is unknown to the criminal procedure
of Nigeria. Granting the application will amount to the mistrial of
the defendant.

“Granting the application upon presented facts, at this stage of
the case, will orchestrate a serious miscarriage of justice. It is
an abuse of court process,” Otemo said.

Justice Kolawole adjourned the matter till February 21, 2018,
for ruling on the prosecution’s application.

Okah, Nwabueze, Edmund Ebiware and Tiemkemfa Francis-Osvwo (aka
General Gbokos) were first arraigned before the court on December
7, 2010, over their alleged involvement in the October 1, 2010,
blasts, leaving about 12 people dead and several others
injured.

The court had earlier sentenced Edmund Ebiware to life
imprisonment, while the 4th defendant, Tekemfa Francis-Osvwo died
in prison.

The court held on June 1, 2017, that both Okah and Nwabueze had
a case to answer with respect to the incident.

Justice Kolawole dismissed the defendants’ no-case submission
which they had filed after the prosecution called 17 witnesses and
tendered documentary exhibits as evidence to prove its case.

The Judge held that contrary to the contention of the
defendants, the prosecution had been able to link the defendants
with the alleged offence, warranting them to offer explanations in
respect of the charges preferred against them.